Salmond urged to quit as MP over his pay

Scotland's first minister has qualified for an additional £81,000 by being an MP as well as an MSP

Alex Salmond is under pressure to quit as an MP following claims his dual role at Westminster and Holyrood will cost taxpayers at least £145,000.

Research commissioned by the Conservatives shows that, since 2007, the Scottish first minister has qualified for an additional £81,000 by being an MP as well as an MSP, despite doing little work at Westminster. If he remains as an MP until next year’s election, he will qualify for Westminster's resettlement grant of a full year’s salary — currently £64,766. The allowance is not available to those who resign during the parliamentary term.

The figures, which have been verified by a leading pension consultant, suggest that Salmond has also accrued Commons’ pension contributions worth more than £55,000 in addition to his first minister’s pension, which will see him awarded 50% of the salary received by his successors from the day he leaves office.